School district to provide free breakfast, lunch
School District of Lee County students will again receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2025-26 school year through the district’s participation in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), under the National School Lunch/National School Breakfast Programs.
The program is offered to every student in the district’s 82 traditional schools, four special centers and four charter school locations, including The Sanibel School on Sanibel.
“The school district qualifies for the CEP based on the percentage of students directly certified for free meals, typically through programs like SNAP, TANF or Medicaid. Using last year’s Direct Certification data, our district exceeded the 60% threshold for economic need, making us eligible to participate,” district Food and Nutrition Services Director Kandy Messenger said. “The federal government provides a formula to determine reimbursement rates for schools participating in CEP, which helps fund our Food and Nutrition Services program.”
The district has participated in the CEP since 2017.
“CEP allows all students to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost, removing the financial barrier to access nutritious meals. This program also eliminates the stigma often associated with free or reduced meal benefits,” she said. “For many of our students, school meals may be the most reliable source of food they receive each day. When students are hungry, it impacts their ability to focus and learn. By providing healthy, balanced meals, we support not only their physical health, but also their academic success and classroom behavior — benefiting both students and teachers.”
Students will be introduced to a new four-week rotating menu that follows all federal nutrition guidelines. Messenger said the menu will include fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
“We’re excited to offer several new menu items that we think students will enjoy,” she said. “The focus is on variety, nutrition and appeal to ensure students are receiving meals they want to eat and that nourish them throughout the day.”
Last year, the district served 5,010,827 breakfasts, 10,731,470 lunches and 730,571 suppers/dinners.
“We are committed to supporting the whole child, and access to nutritious meals plays a critical role in that mission. Our team works hard every day to ensure students are well-fed and ready to learn,” Messenger said. “We’re proud of the role Food & Nutrition Services plays in supporting student achievement across the district”
The participating schools will include:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
– Allen Park
– Amanecer
– Bonita Springs
– Caloosa
– Cape
– Colonial
– Diplomat
– Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton
– Edgewood
– Edison Park
– Fort Myers Beach
– Franklin Park
– G. Weaver Hipps
– Gateway
– Gulf
– Hancock Creek
– Harns Marsh
– Hector A. Cafferata Jr.
– Heights
– J. Colin English
– James Stephens
– Lehigh
– Manatee
– Mirror Lakes
– Orange River
– Orangewood
– Patriot
– Pelican
– Pine Island
– Pinewoods
– Ray V. Pottorff
– Rayma Page
– River Hall
– San Carlos Park
– Skyline
– Spring Creek
– Sunshine
– Tanglewood
– Three Oaks
– Tice
– Tortuga Preserve
– Trafalgar
– Treeline
– Tropic Isles
– Villas
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
– Bonita Springs
– Caloosa
– Challenger
– Cypress Lake
– Diplomat
– Fort Myers
– Gulf
– Harns Marsh
– Lehigh Acres
– Lexington
– Mariner
– Oak Hammock
– Paul Laurence Dunbar
– Lemuel Teal
– Three Oaks
– Trafalgar
– Varsity Lakes
K-8
– North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
– The Alva School
– The Bayshore School
– The Sanibel School
– Veterans Park Academy for the Arts
HIGH SCHOOLS
– Bonita Springs
– Cape Coral
– Cypress Lake
– Dunbar
– East Lee
– Estero
– Fort Myers
– Gateway
– Ida Baker
– Island Coast
– Lehigh Senior
– Mariner
– North Fort Myers
– Riverdale
– South Fort Myers
SPECIAL CENTERS
– Buckingham Exceptional Student Center
– Royal Palm
– Success Academy
YOUNG PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM CHARTERS
– Lee Acceleration Academies
– North Nicholas High School
– Coronado High School
– Island Park High School
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY / news@breezenewspapers.com, please email